jAlbum 29. To the future and beyond

Tons of improvements rather than tons of new features. That could summarize jAlbum 29. We now also support Apple’s new M-series computers, boosting performance 3x compared to the Intel-based jAlbum version

With jAlbum 29, we’ve leaped Java 14 to 19. That’s 5 generations of major Java releases, including tons of fixes for various platforms and new functionality. We’ve also updated several 3:rd party code libraries providing faster and more robust image processing, native code interaction, better encryption, and updates to the three scripting languages jAlbum supports (BeanShell, Groovy, and JavaScript). These changes are like replacing the engine your car runs on with a brand new one, future-proofing jAlbum for the coming years. The Mac version, for instance, is now running on Apple’s new “Metal” graphics library which promises better performance and lower energy consumption, but most importantly: jAlbum will continue to run on future Mac OSes.

Let’s look into the improvements from three perspectives: performance, robustness, and usability:

Performance

The updated image processing libraries are delivering significant performance enhancements to both image reading and writing, ranging from 1,25x to 5,6x the previous version (v28.1). The benchmarks here are gathered by performing multiple “Force rebuild” and “Make album” operations on v29 and v28.1. We’ve then compared the best-performing operation on each version:

Robustness

The updates to jAlbum, Java, encryption libraries, and image processing libraries have improved robustness in many regards:

• Improved HEIC image reading. Now handles certain iPhone 13 HEIC images as well
• Improved TIFF image reading
• Improved PSD image reading
• Improved stability on some Linux dialects
• Scripting languages have been updated with several bug fixes
• Supporting more sFTP encryption algorithms; connecting with GoDaddy for instance
• Better ability to recover projects from albums

Usability

Perhaps not so noticeable at first glance, but various aspects of jAlbum’s user interface and behavior have undergone improvements:

• Windows users can now use “Show in file system” to have the selected image show up selected in the file system (Previously, only the parent window was opened)
• Setting up monitored projects made easier (projects that get updated and uploaded once changes are made)
• Monitoring is now paused for the currently open project (to avoid spurious updates while working on the current project)
• The System console now has a more clever scrolling of the output panel. It can also execute statements in either panel.
• MultiMaker can now force rebuild projects. (Use ALT key)
• MultiMaker keeps a green color on made projects until the window is closed and reopened

As always, you can find the complete list of improvements in our release notes.

As always, jAlbum 29 is a free update to anyone who is on a current support & update plan, including anyone with a current Premium or Power account.

If your license isn’t covering this version (check with the “About jAlbum” menu), then we provide an updater’s discount (usually 30% off). Just sign in and head to our purchase page.